LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Lawrence Alfred SEYMOUR DFC
Service No: 402208
Born: Chatswood NSW, 21 October 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 June 1940
Unit: No 18 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 8 January 1945
Died: Air Operations: (No. 18 Squadron Boston aircraft W8294), Italy, 16 May 1944, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Cassino War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Monday Seymour and Daisy Isabel Seymour, of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Chatswood NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St Stephen’s Church Book of Remembrance, Willoughby NSW
Remembered: St Stephen’s Church L A Seymour Memorial Window, Willoughby NSW
DFC Citation: “Now in his second tour of operations, Flying Officer Seymour has participated in numerous day and night operations. As Gunnery Leader he has materially contributed to the success of many operations.” (London Gazette 8 January 1945, Page 2897)
Flying Officer Seymour lost his life while flying on an armed reconnaissance in Boston W8294 south of Rome on 16 May 1944. The crew members of W8294, who are all buried an a collective grave, were:
Flying Officer Eric James Cole (130281) (RAFVR) (Navigator / Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Jack Heaney (1187891) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Laurence Alfred Seymour DFC (402208) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant George Dave Urich (132304) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9300 SEYMOUR L A
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line